Your Vocation Matters

Every vocation has it challenges, but don't let the challenges distract you from your purpose.

This week’s Stack is a little more personal, but I wanted to share a little behind the scenes about my life running a business that is deeply integrated with my clients’ personal finances.

The last couple weeks in my business have been stressful. Partly due to busyness—lots more work in a shorter amount of time than usual. And partly due to a few snafus and an overall feeling of “what is it I’m doing here?”

I am very blessed. About 90% of the time, I feel eager to get to my desk each day and work on my business. My days are spent on a variety of things—from writing, to creating videos, to working on client matters and meeting with clients—it’s never the same; diverse enough to keep it interesting, but routine enough that I can get into the swing of things and be efficient.

However, the last couple weeks for me have been the 10% of the time when I wonder "Does what I do even matter?” Now, this question impacts us all at some point; there is an inherent human desire to “matter” or to make an impact for the better on those around us. In the rare times I feel this way there are a few things I do to get through it—and to not let these moments derail what is now over a decade of hard work and meaningful relationships.

Never stop doing your routine. When you get overwhelmed with the negative thoughts and wonder if you’re spending your time wisely—don’t stop doing whatever it is that led you to this moment. Whenever I get muddled about my purpose, I keep going through the motions. Much of the routine I have in business was built over years of learning how it best fulfilled my purpose and those around me. So no mooning about, procrastinating, scrolling, binge watching Netflix—or my personal favorite—deep cleaning your house. Keep living your days as if you weren’t feeling listless.

Exercise. If you can go outside and walk each day when you’re in this funk, that’s ideal. I walk and talk out loud to myself (yes it works). No listening to podcasts, or news, or music. Listen to yourself and think, or not think. Where I live is still very cold, so I keep the exercise indoors for now—but move your body and do it without distracting entertainment; use that time to listen and dialogue with yourself.

Seriously consider if your vocation aligns with your life’s purpose. Most of the time when we feel disheartened or discouraged in our vocation it is a passing moment. Perhaps we are distracted by something, have personal matters impacting our outlook, or just had a bad week or two at work. BUT, there are rare times that negative feelings towards your work is a way of your spirit telling you a course correction is needed.

There have been times in my life when these feelings of lacking purpose forced me to recalibrate for the better. However, most of the time, such as now, when I sift through how I’m feeling I realize it is a fleeting bleakness that does not require a shift in routine, goals, or my purpose.

When I have weeks of what seems like tasks to “check the box,” or when I have a negative interaction with a client, I focus on these very minor events at the expense of realizing the big picture. And this week, when I really sat down to mull over my vocation—the way I’ve chosen to spend the majority of my waking time—I realized the most amazing thing. Over the last decade I’ve worked with a diverse set of people, with all different professions, lifestyles, and goals. I’ve seen some through divorces, marriages, starting a business, selling a business, becoming parents and grandparents, the death of parents, spouses—the list goes on—I’ve witnessed them doing all the things that matter in life. I’m on the sidelines helping them with their finances, the one thing, if done right, supports them through these things so they can focus on living their life.

So sure, your vocation may not be solving world peace. You might not be famous, or renowned for some “very important thing,” but if you can reflect on how you spend your time and honestly say that it benefits you, your family, and those around you—then you’re probably doing okay. You’re just having a bad week or two, and what you do does matter. Keep going.

On a final note, for my clients who read this, thank you. You’ve brought more meaning to my life than you can possibly imagine. Even during those times in life when I might forget, I am the lucky one and I only hope I’ve brought half the help to your life as you’ve brought to me by giving me a purpose.